England's back-up bowlers impress
Published: 17 November 2010

England’s second string bowling attack sent a timely reminder to the selectors ahead of the opening Test, bowling Australia A out for 230 at the Bellerive Oval, Hobart.

Surrey seamer Chris Tremlett led the charge with a hostile 4-54 while Yorkshire team-mates Ajmal Shahzad and Tim Bresnan also impressed.

Monty Panesar stunned the crowd, himself and opening batsman Ed Cowan with a remarkable diving catch at mid-wicket. The spinner was less potent with the ball however, finishing wicket-less from 20 overs.

Seamers unleashed

After watching the first choice bowlers secure their Ashes starting places in the opening two fixtures, England looked eager to make an impression from the moment Andrew Strauss inserted the opposition after winning the toss.

Tremlett, tipped by former teammate Nic Pothas to impress Down Under, removed Test hopeful Phillip Hughes for just two - caught at slip by Strauss.

Shahzad and Bresnan weighed in with the dismissals of Usman Khawaja and Callum Ferguson - both included in the 17-man Australian squad for the Brisbane Test.

Cowan and captain Cameron White also both fell before lunch but another squad member Steve Smith launched an impressive counter attack.

The leg-spinning all-rounder made 59, initially in partnership with wicket-keeper Tim Paine (27) and latterly with left-arm-spinner Steve O’Keefe (66).

The impressive Shahzad finally bowled Smith on his way to 3-57 while Bresnan finished with figures of 2-65.

Aussies struggle elsewhere

Australia's other Test players were also fighting to find form ahead of the first Ashes Test - just a week away.

Simon Katich suffered a dire return to First Class cricket. Captaining New South Wales he suffered a shoulder injury after falling for one in NSW’s first innings.

Australia seamer and NSW teammate Doug Bollinger showed signs of returning to his best, taking 3-25 to dismiss Tasmania for just 125. However, Katich's injury prevented him batting in the second innings.

Conditions in Sydney frustrated spinners Nathan Hauritz and Xavier Doherty, neither of whom were able to impact on the day's action.

Doherty managed four wicketless overs in NSW’s first innings while Hauritz failed to get a bowl - having fallen for a golden duck earlier in the day.